15.09.2010 Supreme Economical Court turned down ’Nasha Niva’ lawsuit

The chief editor of Nasha Niva Andrei Skurko, an expert linguist- candidate of philological sciences Nadzeya Shakun and witnesses – the readers of the newspaper who did not manage to buy the issue in the newsstand, appeared in the Supreme Economical Court, at the trial Nasha Niva vs. the Ministry of Information. Predictably enough, the court turned down the lawsuit of the newspaper and left the warnings of the ministry in force.

14.09.2010 Interrogation of Andrei Pachobut

On 13 September the Hrodna journalist Andrei Pachobut was summoned to the Office for Combating Organized Crime and Corruption of the Hrodna region.

14.09.2010 Threats to Natallia Radzina continue

Anonymous threats to the journalist of charter97.org appear daily from the day of Aleh Biabenin’s death.

13.09.2010 Playwright Mikalai Khalezin receives anonymous threats

The head of the Free Theater was threatened after the publication of his article about Aleh Biabenin’s death.

09.09.2010 Aleh Biabenin’s friend tells about circumstances surrounding his death

A friend of Aleh Biabenin. the editor of the web site Electroname.com writes about what was happening on the day of the tragedy and the days before it.

08.09.2010 Discrepancies around Aleh Biabenin's death

Friends and colleagues indicate at the details that contradict the official version.The prosecutor’s office has already announced the official version about a suicide, but they assure it is not a final conclusion.

01.09.2010 Internet filtration begins

On 1 September the Belarusian internet providers launch the systems that will restrict the public access to certain internet resources.

26.08.2010 Homel police seize Havary Praudu periodical

Homel police detained Ivan Hamarka, activist of the Havary Praudu civil campaign as he was distributing the Elektrychka newspaper, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

24.08.2010 Independent publisher Panamarou put on wanted list

On 23 August, Siarhei Panamarou, publisher of the Boiki Kletsk independent newsletter, was put on the wanted list following a court hearing by Slutsk District Court on the same day, the Nasha Niva newspaper reports, quoting the publisher’s lawyer Pavel Sapelka.

20.08.2010 Krychau court to consider claim by independent newspaper publisher

Krychau District Court is to consider a claim lodged by the publisher of local independent newspaper ‘Volny Horad’ Uladzimer Kudrautsau against illegal seizure of 297 copies of the newspaper’s latest issue by the town’s police, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reports.

19.08.2010 Publisher of “Bojki Kletsk” asks for political asylum in Poland

An activist of “For Freedom” movement from Kletsk, 58-year-old Syarhei Panamarou, has asked for political asylum in Poland.

A criminal process against him is scheduled for August 23, and the man was to give a written undertaking not to leave the place before the court.

19.08.2010 “Reporters without borders” go to bat for Belarusian oppositional newspapers

The new law on mass media gives the authorities a possibility to tighten control on the press.

As BelaPAN informs, the international human rights organization “Reporters without Borders” has condemned stepping up pressure on mass media in Belarus in the run-up to the presidential elections.

11.08.2010 Brest official cuts circulation of local independent newspaper

Vasil Mareika, head of the Brestablsayuzdruk state distribution system, ordered to cut the circulation of the Brestski kurier independent newspaper by two-thirds, the Belarusian Association of Journalists reports quoting the newspaper’s Editor-in-chief Mikalai Aliaksandrau.

11.08.2010 Prosecutor Office issued warning to Belsat journalist for a report about heat

Tatsyana Bublikava received an official warning for her journalistic activities without accreditation from the Foreign Affairs Ministry.

Supervision agencies considered legality of her work in connection with an application from an agronomist of Uritskaye agricultural production co-operative, “Salidarnasts” reports.

09.08.2010 Police seize newspaper Krynica in Hrodna

Mikola Bausyuk, a coordinator of the committee to organize the Belarusian Christian Democracy party, was detained in Hrodna, carrying the copies of Krynica newspaper, reports Radio Svaboda.